You say
you will never forget
where you were
when you heard
the news
On September 11, 2001.
Neither will I.

I was on the 110th floor
in a smoke filled room
with a man
who called his
wife to say 'Good-Bye.'
I held his fingers steady
as he dialed.
I gave him the
peace to say,
'Honey, I am not going to make it,
but it is OK..

I am ready to go.'

I was with his wife
when he called as she
fed breakfast to their children.
I held her up
as she tried
to understand his words
and as she realized
he wasn't coming home that night.

I was in the stairwell
of the 23rd floor
when a woman cried out to Me for help.
'I have been knocking
on the door of your heart for 50 years!'
I said.
'Of course I will show you
the way home
only believe in Me now.'

I was at
the base of the building
with the Priest
ministering to the injured
and devastated souls.
I took him home
to tend to his Flock
in Heaven.
He heard my voice
and answered.

I was on all four of those planes,
in every seat, with every prayer.
I was with the crew
as they were overtaken.
I was in the very hearts
of the believers there,
comforting and
assuring them
that their faith
has saved them.

I was in
New York,
Michigan,
California,
Illinois,
Iraq.

I was standing next to you
when you heard
the terrible news.
Did you sense Me?

I want you to know
that I saw every face.
I knew every name -
though not all know Me.
Some met Me
for the first time
on the 86th floor.

Some sought Me
with their last breath.
Some couldn't hear Me
calling to them
through the smoke and flames;
'Come to Me... this way... take my hand.'
Some chose, for the final time, to ignore Me.
But, I was there.

I did not
place you in the Tower that day.
You may not know why,
but I do.
However, if you were there
in that explosive moment in time,
would you have reached for Me?

Sept. 11, 2001,
was not
the end
of the journey
for you.
But someday
your journey
will end.
And I will be there
for you as well.
Seek Me now
while I may be found.
Then, at any moment,
you know you are
'ready to go.'

I will be in the stairwell
of your final moments.

Stop whatever you are doing,
and take this opportunity.

Stop and think
and appreciate
God's power in your life,
for doing what you know
is pleasing to Him.

If you are not ashamed
Jesus said,
'If you are ashamed of Me,
I will be ashamed of you
before My Father'

If you are not ashamed,
send this video to othhers
and declare loudly
in
words,
songs,
and deeds!

'Yes, I love my God.
He is my fountain of Life
and My Savior.
He Keeps me going
day and night.
Without Him,
I am no one.
But with Him,
I can do everything.
Jesus Christ
is my strength.
He is my stairwell!'

Rev. Jacob Yasso was born in the village of Telkaif, Iraq. After completing high school he was recruited to Rome and Urbaniana University where he completed his Masters Degree in philosophy and Theology. Fr. Yasso was ordained a priest in 1960 and served the Diocese of Mosul, where he worked in the public school system. Fr. Yasso was also asked by the Patriarch to teach at the Patriarchal Seminary in Baghdad, where he served as administrator, professor of philosophy and religious life, and rector of the minor seminary.

In 1964, Fr. Yasso was appointed to the United States to serve the growing Chaldean community in Detroit. There he served as the 4th Pastor of Mother of God Parish. . In 1972, the Patriarch charged Fr. Yasso with building a new parish for the Chaldeans in Detroit. In taking great pains to care for the community Fr. Yasso accelerated the development of a new church and community center. In 1975, Fr. Yasso completed the development of Sacred Heart Parish in Detroit and shortly thereafter he added the Chaldean Center of America in 1980,

A few years later in 1982, Fr. Yasso was asked to assist the late Fr. Kattoula at St. Peter’s Church in San Diego, CA. Before long, Fr. Yasso was once again recruited to Rome to study new Canon Law of the Church. While in Rome Fr. Yasso completed his third Masters Degree in Church Law, making him the only Chaldean priest trained in Canon Law.

In 1988, the Patriarch and Vatican authorities asked Fr. Yasso to travel to Canada and establish a parish and community center. While there he served as a Tribunal Judge for the Archdiocese of Toronto. Four years later Fr. Yasso returned to Sacred Heart church in Detroit to help care for the remaining Chaldean community residence in the Detroit area. To this day, Fr. Yasso continues to serve as the parish pastor creating activities and advising the City of Detroit on community related matters.

Fr. Yasso is a member of the International WYCLIF Bible translators, since 1975, and has completed the translation of the New Testament from Greek and Aramaic into Arabic and spoken Chaldean. The publication of his scholarly work is set to be released soon.